Impact of palm oil mill effluent on the soil in Upkom- Bende forest reserve, Abia state, Nigeria

The palm oil industries in southeastern Nigeria is a major agro-enterprise. This study examined the impact of the palm oil mill effluent on the soil in Ukpom Bende Forest Reserve Abia State, Nigeria with the objective of assessing the impact of palm oil mill effluent (POME) on soil physiochemical properties in Ukpom Forest Reserve. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was employed. Three topsoil samples were collected at a downslope distance of 10m, 20m, and 30m respectively with 3 replicates each and control (Non-polluted site) of 100m away from study site. Total of 9 samples and control were collected and taken to soil laboratory in National Root Crop Research Institute Umudike, Abia State to analyzed the soil particle matter size, Organic carbon, Organic matter, Total nitrogen, Available phosphorous, Exchange cations (Na, K, Ca, Mg), Electrical conductivity and EA that affect the percentage (%) of sand and silt of the soil. Result revealed pH, Ca2+, Mg2+ and % silt significantly increases (p<0.05) along the slope 10-30m, while % BS, EC, P, K, Na, EA, ECEC, % OC, % OM, and % sand significantly decreases along the slope 10-30m, and the % clay is seen constant along the slope of 10-30m. However, EC, P, % OC, % OM, % N, % silt, % clay, K+ and EA increases significantly (p<0.05) compared to control site, while pH, Ca, Mg, % BS, ECEC, Na and %sand decreases significantly(p<0.05) compared to the control sites. Result revealed that POME causes deterioration of soil physicochemical properties and increase soil acidity. Therefore, we recommend that adequate treatment and proper disposal of POME should be promoted and awareness carried to the rural oil palm processors.Keywords: Effluents, palm processing, soil quality and soil concentratio